Advice and financial assistance during Pregnancy

Babybelly. © silverjohn - Depositphotos.com© silverjohn - Depositphotos.com

Pregnancy always entails lots of changes and parents-to-be can consequently be left with a lot of questions.

When you first become pregnant, you may face the potentially difficult decision of whether or not you wish to continue the pregnancy. You may also have questions about career prospects, financial assistance, custody of the child, housing, etc. To find the information you need, please refer to the index at the back of this brochure.

During pregnancy and in the initial period after your child is born, you may be able to obtain financial assistance from the following organisations:

If you are on a low income, you can apply for financial assistance from the “Bundesstiftung Mutter und Kind” or the City of Münster Discretionary Fund (Sonderfonds der Stadt Münster). Grants can be made for pregnancy-related expenses.

The Bundesstiftung allows you to make a single application to cover the whole of the pregnancy. In Münster, these funds are disbursed by the Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen, Donum Vitae and City of Münster pregnancy counselling centres.

Funds from the City of Münster Discretionary Fund are disbursed by all five pregnancy counselling centres. Applications can be made at these centres.

Important: To be eligible to apply for funds from the Discretionary Fund, you must have been in contact with a pregnancy counselling centre during the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy. Grants from the Discretionary Fund may in some cases be awarded for up to three years after the birth.

If you are in receipt of Arbeitslosengeld II unemployment benefit or comparable benefits, you can apply to the Jobcenter for grants for maternity clothing and for initial baby equipment. Free-form applications (there is no application form) should be made in writing.

Grants for maternity clothing and initial baby equipment are also available if you are a student or on a vocational training scheme (Ausbildung).

Working women who are insured through a statutory health insurance provider (gesetzliche Krankenkasse) will be paid maternity allowance (Mutterschaftsgeld) by their health insurance provider during the period of statutory maternity leave (six weeks before and eight weeks after the birth). Your health insurance provider can provide you with further information.

Organisations in Münster

Amt für Kinder, Jugendliche und Familie - Schwangerschaftsberatung (Office for children, young people and families - Pregnancy counselling service)

Amt für Kinder, Jugendliche und Familien der Stadt Münster

Pregnant? Young or old, you are likely to have a lot of questions. And the answers are not always straightforward. Depending on your personal circumstances, pregnancy may be a critical period in your life. Problems may arise as a result of your professional or financial situation, the attitude of your partner, your age, or worries about the responsibility of caring for a child.

From general information to specific advice for individuals or in an emergency, the City of Münster pregnancy counselling service is here to help.

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Beratungs- und BildungsCentrum GmbH of the Diakonie Münster - Pregnancy counselling service

Hardly any event changes a life as much as a pregnancy, which promises family happiness and changes life plans. Joy and uncertainty sometimes are close together.

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donum vitae Münster e.V.

A pregnancy changes your life. Joy and uncertainty lie together closely, a lot of questions arise. You don't have to deal with all of that alone.

We are here for you and are happy to take some time for you!

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pro familia

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You can talk to us!

pro familia stands for independent family planning and sexual self-determination. Our advice is free of charge and independent of nationality and religious denomination.

In pregnancy counseling, individuals and couples can receive comprehensive advice on their changing life situation and the questions that arise from it. The advice is of course confidential, anonymously upon request and subject to confidentiality.

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Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen e.V. Münster - pregnancy counselling service

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Pregnancy changes everything – the way you think; the way you feel; your whole life. We won't leave you alone with this.

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